Research Topics for Design and Delivery of Polymer-Drug Complexes REU for 2009
The Summer Undergraduate Research Program on the Design and Delivery of Polymer-Drug Complexes will focus on the SYNTHESIS of well-defined polymers for drug delivery systems and for mediating membrane properties, the PHYSICAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING that characterizes the polymer-drug complexes and their properties, and their MATERIAL-CELL INTERACTIONS.
We anticipate funding for 12 undergraduate research positions in 2009.
Please note the Project # (DDPDC-1, for example) for which you are interested in being considered on your application.
(S) - Synthesis; (P) Physical Sciences and Engineering; (C) Interactions of Materials with Cells or Biomimetic Membranes or Surfaces
-
DDPDC-1: CONTROLLED RELEASE OF BIOMOLECULES FROM SUPERPARAMAGNETIC IRON OXIDE PARTICLES UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF AN ALTERNATING MAGNETIC FIELD (Mentors: Profs. Judy Riffle (S), Jean Heremans (P) and Vicki Soghomonian (P))
2 REU Positions
Objective: Synthesis and characterization of model NMs coated with tailored biocompatible block copolymer coronas. To design and test Helmholtz coils for the AC magnetic field assembly.
Approach: A synthetic student and a physics student will collaborate to prepare model magnetite nanoparticles coated with biocompatible polymeric dispersants that will be tested in the coil assemblies. This will be coupled with computational and experimental design and execution of coils, testing, and measuring the generated AC magnetic field.
Anticipated Outcome: Assemble a working AC magnetic field set-up as depicted in Fig. 1, and evaluate the energy transfer from the AC field to the NMs by monitoring the rise in temperature of different solvent systems. - DDPDC-2: PROBING THE INFLUENCE OF BINDING STRENGTH ON THE RELEASE OF THERAPEUTIC NUCLEIC ACIDS FROM NANOSCALE COMPLEXES WITH TAILORED POLYELECTROLYTES (Mentors: Profs. Tim Long (S), Theresa Reineke (C, S) and Robert Moore (P))
3 REU Positions
Objective: Synthesis and characterization of cationic, segmented polyelectrolytes (segmented block copolymers) and correlation of molecular structure with binding affinity to nucleic acids and reporter gene delivery in cultured cells
Approach: Students will team to learn synthetic methodologies, materials characterization techniques, biological assays, and the correlation of complementary analytical data
Anticipated Outcome: Correlation of fundamental polymer parameters with efficiency of gene delivery in terms of thermodynamic binding constants - DDPDC-3: DESIGN OF POLYSACCHARIDE NANOPARTICULATE MATRICES FOR ENHANCED SOLUBILITY AND BIOAVAILABILITY OF CRYSTALLINE DRUGS (Mentors: Profs. Kevin Edgar (S), Alan Esker (P), Maren Roman (P))
3 REU Positions
Objective: Synthesis and characterization of carboxylated cellulose derivatives, formation of nanoparticulate matrices, and correlation of polysaccharide structure and particle size with solubility enhancement.
Approach: Students will work in teams but spend time in each laboratory to learn synthetic and polymer characterization methodologies, nanoparticle formation and analysis methods, drug release, and methods for measuring drug/nanoparticle properties and interactions with model biological fluids and membranes.
Anticipated Outcome: Analysis of structure-property relationships between polysaccharide and nanoparticle structure, and critical drug delivery parameters. - DDPDC-4: PROTEIN MICROSPHERES WITH TAILORED NETWORK CHEMISTRY FOR pH-SENSITIVE RELEASE OF CANCER DRUGS (Mentors: Abby Morgan (C), Richard Turner (S) and Richey Davis (P))
2 REU Positions
Objective: To synthesize pH-sensitive albumin hydrogel microspheres, measure binding/release of mitomycin C, and correlate release with in vitro effects on cancer cells.
Approach: A synthesis student and a biomedical engineering student will collaborate to create novel hydrogel protein networks and to evaluate release of a cancer drug in light of the material parameters. They will also have the opportunity to learn sensitive surface measurement techniques through collaboration with an engineering group to quantify binding and release of the drug.
Anticipated Outcome: The student will discover if pH-sensitive albumin is a suitable candidate as a carrier for local delivery of mitomycin C. - DDPDC-5: POLYMERIC NANOPARTICLES WITH ELECTROSTATICALLY BOUND ANTIMICROBIALS FOR TRANSPORT TO INTRACELLULAR PATHOGENS (Mentors: Nammalwar Sriranganathan (C), Judy Riffle (S) and Richey Davis (P))
2 REU Positions
Objective: Fabrication of antimicrobial-polymer complexes with varied amphiphilic nonionic block structures, correlation of cell uptake as functions of chemical structure, size and charge characteristics
Approach: The SURP team will learn techniques for forming and characterizing nanoparticles using a confined impinging jet mixer, DLS and zeta potential measurements, and for conducting cell cultures and measuring nanoparticle transport into cells.
Anticipated Outcome: Correlation of block ionomer structural parameters with the structure and properties of nanoparticle complexes and knowledge of what chemical parameters in the nonionic segments of the copolymers govern interactions with cell membranes